Focus on lasers and imaging

The FemtoFiber dichro design bioMP laser from Toptica emits from one aperture two synchronized laser beams at different wavelengths. The all-fiber, dual-color system produces pulses centered at 780 nm (above 100 mW) and at 1030 nm (above 200 mW). Both pulses have durations below 100 fs at a repetition rate of 80 MHz. The system allows users to easily tune temporal and spatial overlap of the two beams and to remotely control all laser parameters. The laser also creates an additional virtual excitation line at 888 nm. That line makes possible simultaneous live-cell multicolor two-photon imaging with two or three wavelengths and two-photon excitation of conventional fluorescent markers, including green fluorescent protein. The FemtoFiber is a compact, alignment-free system suitable for various biophotonics and microscopy applications. Toptica Photonics Inc, 1286 Blossom Drive, Victor, NY 14564, http://www.toptica.com

The A-series from FLIR Systems includes three thermal cameras for cooled imaging that cover all IR wavelengths. With a 640- by 512-resolution indium gallium arsenide detector that produces high-quality near-IR images, the A6200sc model is suitable for laser-beam profiling, art restoration, solar cell inspection, and astronomy applications. The A8300sc is a compact, high-sensitivity, low-noise midwave-IR camera with a cooled 1280- by 720-resolution indium antimonide detector that captures high-definition thermal images with fine detail. It can be used for thermal electronics inspection and microscopy, nondestructive materials testing, failure analysis, and R&D. The A6700sc cooled strained-layer-superlattice detector produces crisp 640- by 512-resolution longwave-IR thermal images. It offers ultrashort integration times to stop motion on fast-moving or thermally dynamic targets and wide temperature ranges for automotive testing and university and industrial R&D. FLIR Systems Inc, 27700 Southwest Parkway Avenue, Wilsonville, OR 97070, http://www.flir.com

According to WITec, its Apyron system offers high spectral resolution in 3D confocal Raman imaging and sensitive laser power determination. Users can select the laser wavelength and subsequently adjust spectrometer and microscope components to ensure optimized system performance. The absolute laser power control and the ability to change the power by 0.1-mW steps preserves delicate samples and ensures the reproducibility of measurement conditions. The ultrahigh-throughput spectrometer, which has a 600-mm focal length, enables challenging experiments at very low light intensities. The company offers UHTS versions that are optimized for their specific laser wavelengths. The Apyron’s spectral resolution is as high as 0.1 cm⁻¹ per pixel at 633-nm excitation. Predefined calibration routines are integrated to facilitate quick, user-friendly system maintenance with reliable performance. WITec Instruments Corp, 130G Market Place Boulevard, Knoxville, TN 37922, http://www.witec-instruments.com

Alpes Lasers has added two new product lines to its family of quantum cascade lasers. The instruments are available in high-heat-load housing with collimated output and can be accompanied by appropriate drivers. The HP-QCL high-power sources have a minimum average power of 1 W and more than 9 W of peak power with a multimode spectral output. Devices with peak emission at 2040 cm⁻¹ (4.9 µm) are available from stock; other wavelengths are provided on demand. The dedicated laser driver can be programmed internally or controlled externally through TTL signals with arbitrary pulse sequences. The lasers can be used for free-space optical communications, energy deposition, illumination, and IR countermeasures. The QC-ET extended tuning lasers feature 6 cm⁻¹ wavelength ramps and dither over a range of more than 0.4% of the central wavelength at 1270 cm⁻¹. Such an extended tuning range can be used for fast wide scanning and multispecies gas monitoring. Alpes Lasers SA, Passage Maximilien-de-Meuron 1, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland, http://www.alpeslasers.ch

Princeton Instruments has released its ProEM-HS line of high-speed, electron-multiplying (EM) CCD cameras for low-light imaging and spectroscopy applications, including single-molecule fluorescence, astronomy, Bose–Einstein condensates, and plasma studies. The cameras have eXcelon3 back-illuminated EMCCD technology, which the company claims offers a combination of high quantum efficiency of greater than 95%, effective fringe suppression in the near-IR, and single-photon sensitivity. The cameras are thermoelectrically cooled to below −90 °C using air and liquid. Enabled by its 20-MHz analog-to-digital converter readout capability and 300 ns/row vertical shift speed, the ProEM-HS:512BX3 model delivers more than 60 full frames/s. It provides more than 1000 fps in imaging mode and 10 000 fps using special high-speed, custom readout modes. Princeton Instruments, 3660 Quakerbridge Road, Trenton, NJ 08619, http://www.princetoninstruments.com

Spectra-Physics has introduced its Spitfire Ace high-power, ultrafast regenerative amplifiers and Ascend line of high-power kilohertz, diode-pumped solid-state green lasers. Delivering up to 60 W of power with excellent beam profile for high efficiency, the Ascend lasers offer flexible performance with several output power levels for pumping specific amplifier system configurations. The ultrafast amplifiers feature higher than 16-W power configurations and regenerative-only power of more than 8 W at 5 kHz. They deliver more than 7 W at repetition rates of 1–10 kHz and with configurations shorter than 35 fs and 120 fs. According to Spectra-Physics, with its Ace cavity, the amplifiers provide superior beam quality even at the highest energy configurations. The systems are suitable for advanced research applications, including multidimensional and time-resolved spectroscopy. Spectra-Physics, 3635 Peterson Way, Santa Clara, CA 95054, http://www.spectra-physics.com

Coherent’s LaserCam-HR II laser-beam diagnostic cameras offer improvements over the company’s original LaserCam-HR. But their hardware and software remain compatible with older LaserCam products so the cameras can be easily integrated in production and laboratory settings. Performance is improved by advanced circuitry and newer CCD sensors, which are available in ½- and ⅔-inch formats. The enhancements lower the noise floor and allow the bit depth of the image digitization process to be increased, so the dynamic range can be expanded by a full decade on the low light end. More sensitive and accurate laser-beam diameter measurements are made possible, especially those involving D4sigma and second-moment calculations. The cameras include Coherent’s BeamView software, which now incorporates drivers for Windows 7 and 8. Coherent Inc, 5100 Patrick Henry Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95054, http://www.coherent.com

The Fluoview FVMPE-RS multiphoton laser scanning microscope series from Olympus has a high-speed scanner that allows observation of rapidly changing biological specimens. It can obtain vivid images from as deep as 8 mm below the tissue surface. To offer greater scope and flexibility for life sciences research, Olympus has released two new series configurations. The Gantry microscope model features an ultrastable arch-like structure with considerable space beneath the objective to accommodate experiments of various sizes. A volume measuring 640 mm wide × 355 mm high × 520 mm deep is available if the stage is removed. An inverted microscope model allows users to study the sample from below, so cells that have adhered to the base of the petri dish can be observed without culture fluid touching the objective. Olympus America Inc, Life Science Solutions, 3500 Corporate Parkway, Center Valley, PA 18034, http://www.olympus-lifescience.com

Developed for both fluorescence and bright-field applications, the Leica DFC7000 T is a cooled digital CCD color camera with a highly sensitive quad-tab sensor. The high camera resolution and distinctive color fidelity allow users to capture bright-field images. The high signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity detect fluorescence signals and deliver crisp images. The Leica DFC7000 T, based on the Sony ICX674AQG CCD sensor with Exview HAD II technology, delivers 2.8-megapixel, high-resolution, wide-dynamic-range images. Its specialty is simultaneous multicolor fluorescence imaging, even in the near-IR range. The sensor can be switched and can deliver 40 frames/s full frame in high-speed mode or up to 123 frames/s in 5 × 5 binning mode. The camera allows for samples to be cooled or heated without loss of image quality—for example, in heat shock experiments. Leica Microsystems Inc, 1700 Leider Lane, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089, http://www.leica-microsystems.com

Quantum Composers has released a diode-pumped solid-state laser for research, medical, and industrial applications. According to the company, the 15.2-cm, 1.1-kg Jewel laser has rugged components but is one of the smallest, lightest diode-pumped lasers in its class. It can reduce the space and weight limits on laser systems and, with its swappable resonator, potentially reduce downtime and production costs. The USB or optional Bluetooth wireless interface can be used for programming and running diagnostics without touching the system, thus making it suitable for clean rooms. Other applications are light detection and ranging, optical parametric oscillator pumping, particle image velocimetry, laser-induced fluorescence, thin-film-transistor LCD repair, ablation, and mass spectroscopy. Quantum Composers Inc, 212 Discovery Drive, Bozeman, MT 59718, http://www.quantumcomposers.com

Two entry-level models have been added to PCO’s PCO.edge line of scientific CMOS (sCMOS) cameras. In addition to offering wide dynamic range and high sensitivity, the PCO.edge 3.1 and 4.2 LT provide various selectable readout modes—for example, the light-sheet microscopy mode. The PCO sCMOS family is small-sized; the cameras measure 70 mm × 76 mm × 102 mm, so they can be used in more science and research applications than larger cameras. The PCO.edge 3.1 features 2048- by 1536-pixel resolution, 50 frames/s, 1.1 e-medium readout noise, 27 000:1 dynamic range, greater than 60% quantum efficiency (QE), and global and rolling shutter readout. The PCO.edge 4.2 LT offers 2048- by 2048-pixel resolution, 40 frames/s, 0.8 e- medium readout noise, 36 000:1 dynamic range, and greater than 70% QE. PCO AG, Donaupark 11, 93309 Kelheim, Germany, http://www.pco.de

Meller Optics’ large truncated hyper-hemisphere dome permits IR and shortwave-IR 360° full viewing with an enhanced 65° field of view. The custom-fabricated sapphire dome can include precise edge steps and end profiles for special mounting surfaces. Its size can range from a 6.0-inch to 10.5-inch outer diameter with a 0.2-inch to 0.75-inch thick wall, depending on the outer diameter. Designed to protect cameras, sensors, and detectors in harsh environments, it provides up to 85% transmission uncoated in the UV to IR and up to 99% when antireflection coated on two sides. Featuring Moh 9 hardness—second only to diamond—the dome has a 40-20 scratch-dig surface finish, 10-Å surface roughness, and a surface flatness figure of 1.0 fringe over any 2.0-inch diameter on both faces. Meller Optics Inc, 120 Corliss Street, Providence, RI 02904, http://www.melleroptics.com

Toshiba Imaging Systems has announced the IK-HD5U 3-CMOS video camera with full-frame-rate, high-definition output via USB 3.0. The progressive-scan 1080p/1080i video camera also offers DVI-D output. The front-panel freeze frame and exposure mode up to 1 s (60 frames) make it suitable for bright-field microscopy imaging for surgery, near-IR inspection, and scientific and defense systems. The three-chip camera delivers high color accuracy and sharp, 1920 × 1080 resolution at 59.94 frames/s for blur-free, full-motion output. The IK-HD5U is compatible with the company’s IK-HD5H 3-CMOS camera head, which has a removable optical low-pass filter for dual-mode imaging applications. The dual mode easily switches between visible light and near-IR visualization. The IK-HD5U is also suitable for imaging tasks that use fluorescing agents. Toshiba America Information Systems Inc, Imaging Systems Division, 9740 Irvine Boulevard, Irvine, CA 92618-1697, http://www.toshibacameras.com

The LDC-37620 high-power single-emitter laser diode controller, introduced by ILX Lightwave, combines a precision current source with an integrated 128-W thermoelectric temperature controller. It provides accurate constant current or constant power operation in both the 10-A and 20-A range, with a compliance voltage up to 4 V. An interlock will disable laser current to prevent thermal runaway of high-power lasers. To protect the lasers, the controller has transient suppression, slow start, adjustable current limit and compliance voltage, intermittent contact protection, and output shorting relays. The front panel allows for fast setup and incorporates both large, seven-segment LEDs and a dot matrix display for easy viewing of multiple parameters from across a laboratory. ILX Lightwave, 31950 Frontage Road, Bozeman, MT 59715, http://www.newport.com

Ophir Photonics has added the LT665 USB 3.0 large-array CCD camera to its BeamGage family of laser-beam profiling systems. It is designed for applications that require high speed, sensitivity, and resolution, including ophthalmology, machine vision, and near-IR. Its USB 3.0 interface delivers 6 megapixels at up to 27 frames/s. The large, 1-inch format provides an active area with 4.5-µm square pixels. The 2752 × 2192 CCD array is built with low-noise electronics and a novel thermal management technology that the company claims delivers a stable background and accurate results. BeamGage software performs data acquisition and analysis of laser beams, such as size, shape, uniformity, divergence, mode content, and expected power distribution. Measuring 43 mm × 43 mm × 65 mm, the lightweight, robust camera integrates into tight spaces. Ophir Photonics Group, Ophir-Spiricon LLC, 3050 North 300 West, North Logan, UT 84341, http://www.ophiropt.com